Daughtry's 17-footer lifts Dawgs in closing seconds

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 7, 2007 2:11 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Princeton guard Ryan Daughtry envisions sinking the game-winning jumper every time he practices or just shoots around in his backyard.

The clock winds down.

Daughtry shakes his defender, gets an open look at the basket and fires.

Swish!

The same scenario played out live like a Playstation 3 video game Friday evening in the Spring Creek gymnasium. Draped by two Gator defenders, Daughtry calmly drained a 17-footer with 3.5 seconds left and propelled the Dawgs to a 54-52 victory in the Class 1-A Carolina Conference opener for both teams.

"I was going to pass it," admitted a grinning Daughtry. "I faked the pass and the defender brushed off me. I had a little space and took the shot. I was hoping it was going in, but I knew we had two guys down there to rebound."

Princeton (10-5, 1-0 Carolina) collected its fifth win decided by two possessions or less this season.

Spring Creek's girls nearly experienced a disastrous fourth-quarter meltdown. The Gators watched a 15-point advantage dwindle to a single possession, but managed to hold on 39-36 and win a conference opener for the first time in school history.

Daughtry pulled the Dawgs within 45-42 on a 3-pointer off Will Gainey's assist as the fourth quarter wound down. Daniel Gerrell gave Princeton its first lead, 49-48, on an uncontested layup underneath.

Spring Creek's David Harris answered with a backdoor layup off Josh Wright's assist. Daughtry hit his fourth 3-pointer off another Gainey assist to push Princeton back in front 52-50.

Desmund Raiford's offensive putback forced another tie at 52-52 with less than a minute remaining in regulation. Princeton opted not to burn a timeout and put the hands the final 45 seconds.

"That last play is exactly what we wanted," said Princeton coach Jeff Davis. "Ryan just did a great job of not forcing things. I had just about decided we were going to lose this one, but I don't know why because we've won every game we've been in.

"I've got to start believing in them sooner or later."

Spring Creek coach Sonny Kilpatrick lamented his team's inability to attack for 32 minutes. The Gators twice built seven-point leads in the second half. However, they became too complacent offensively -- worried more about missing the shot and allowing Princeton to rebound.

"That fourth quarter we were too busy playing not to lose instead of trying to win the game," said Kilpatrick. "I thought if we could keep the game ugly, we'd have the advantage. But when the chips were down, Princeton kept right on playing."

Daughtry finished with 23 points, including a 7 of 8 effort at the free throw line. Gerrell provided 10 points, while Gainey contributed nine.

Josh Wright paced the Gators with 13 points and six assists. Raiford, plagued by foul trouble, chipped in 11 points. Kevin Winn added nine points from 3-point range.

Fourth-year Gators coach Mandy Ramfjord warned her girls to keep Princeton's C.C. Sanders from getting loose in the final quarter. Sanders picked the Gators clean for four steals, which led to four baskets.

Sanders scored twice and Brittany Baker added two uncontested jumpers as Princeton whittled a 15-point deficit to three with 59.9 seconds remaining in regulation.

"That's just her athleticism," said Ramfjord said of Sanders. "Number 14 (Baker) came off the bench shooting in the fourth quarter."

The Gators missed a game-clinching free throw with 9.2 seconds left and the Dawgs' Stephanie Daughtry misfired on a 3-pointer as time expired.

"They've never, ever been in that situation before," said Ramfjord, whose team outscored Princeton 16-0 in the third quarter. "If you've never been there, it's hard what to know what to do with (the lead). But I'm proud of the girls and this is something we just need to build on.

"We played together as a team. Melanique did a good job of handling the ball. Norma (Valentin) played strong on defense and Tasha stepped up her offensive game."

Sanders and the Gators' Tasha Whitfield (eight rebounds) shared game-high scoring honors with 14 points. Baker finished with nine for the Dawgs. Spring Creek's Melanique DeVeaux contributed 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

Each team continues Carolina Conference play next Tuesday. Spring Creek is the guest of Ayden-Grifton, while Princeton plays host to North Duplin.

Boys game

Princeton 9 20 9 16 -- 54

S. Creek 14 14 17 7 -- 52

PRINCETON (10-5, 1-0)

Daniel Gerrell 5 0 0-0 10, Ryan Daughtry 2 4 7-8 23, Adam Nethercutt 1 0 0-1 2, Josh Holmes 0 0 2-2 2, Josh Barefoot 2 0 2-2 6, Andrew Cobb 0 0 2-3 2, Will Gainey 4 0 1-2 9. TOTALS -- 14 4 14-18 54.

SPRING CREEK (2-10, 0-1)

Daniel Harris 0 0 0-0 0, Kevin Winn 0 3 0-0 9, Terrance Johnson 1 0 0-0 2, Josh Wright 6 0 1-4 13, Emmanuel Hinton 1 0 0-3 2, David Harris 1 0 1-2 3, Dekevius Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Maurice Langston 2 0 1-2 5, Lucas Potter 1 0 0-0 2, Daniel Correll 2 0 0-0 4, Carsheme Ruffin 0 0 0-0 0, Desmund Raiford 4 0 3-4 11. TOTALS -- 17 4 6-16 52.

Girls game

Princeton 6 13 0 17 -- 36

S. Creek 6 12 16 5 -- 39

PRINCETON (9-6, 0-1)

Stephanie Daughtry 2 0 0-0 4, Brittany Baker 4 0 1-3 9, Brittany Davis 0 0 0-0 0, C.C. Sanders 6 0 2-10 14, Tiesha Williams 1 0 1-2 3, Ashley Braswell 2 0 0-0 4, Cynthia Peedin 1 0 0-2 2. TOTALS -- 16 0 4-19 36.

SPRING CREEK (2-10, 1-0)

Sarah Parks 2 0 0-1 4, Melanique DeVeaux 4 0 2-5 10, Maura Phipps 0 0 0-0 0, Tasha Whitfield 6 0 2-3 14, Norma Valentin 2 0 4-6 8, Shaquita Brooks 0 1 0-1 3. TOTALS -- 14 1 8-16 39.